In Memoriam: Tom Ward

Tom Ward, who spent 33 years in sales with Wells Mfg. Co., died Dec. 21, 2012 of complications from Alzheimer’s. He was 72.

George Thomas Ward spent his youth on his family’s Wiley City, Wash., hop and cattle ranch. In 1972, after coaching the Yakima ski team and working for Head Ski Co., Ward joined Wells as a production manager. He spent the next four decades there and held the title of national sales manager when he retired from the Reno, Nev., firm in 2006.

“Tom had a quiet competence combined with very strong customer focus,” commented Jeff Rhodenbaugh, who worked with Ward at Wells for many years. “His operational background provided a valuable skill set in working with his customers to develop product applications for their specific operational needs. Tom was also skilled at assisting the dealer community with the necessary factory support to manage large national chain account business.”